Asthma is a chronic disease that requires changes in many areas of your life. Take the steps necessary to learn how to control your asthma on a daily basis as prevention is the best way to manage your condition. This article contains much-needed advice on different strategies to help you manage your asthma.
Never smoke around a child with asthma, or you could kill them! Secondhand smoke is a trigger for asthma attacks, not to mention the myriad of other diseases it can cause. You should never put your children in a situation where they are exposed to people who are smoking.
What triggers your asthma? Before you can develop a self-care plan for your asthma symptoms, you need to know the specific cause of your symptoms. One example of this is exercise-induced asthma. This type of asthmatic will need to carry his inhaler with him when he goes for a run. You can actually start preventing asthma attacks if you are aware and mindful of any patterns that your symptoms present.
You need to avoid all of the asthma triggers that you know. For some people, it may be related to allergies, such as a reaction to dust or pollen. Or, you may need to avoid certain activities that overexert your body. It is important to determine what triggers your asthma attacks so you can try to avoid those things.
Second hand smoke can cause asthma to develop in children, and can trigger an asthma attack if they already suffer from asthma. It has been medically proven that smoking can cause asthma or make existing symptoms worse. Ensure that your child is not around other people that smoke, either.
Leukotriene inhibitors may be helpful to you if you suffer from asthma. These inhibitors can prevent leukotrienes. Inhibiting this chemical can lead to a decrease in asthma symptoms. Taking an inhibitor will reduce the amount of this substance your body produces, which should decrease the number of attacks you experience.
Never take medications without getting your doctor’s approval so you don’t wind up taking one that has a side effect of exacerbating asthma.. Various NSAIDs and aspirin have been reported to do this. You can also use beta blockers, which will help you manage blood pressure. If you suffer from these conditions and also have asthma, be sure to let your doctor know.
If you have asthma and cannot get health insurance, see a social worker. Social workers are often able to locate a hospital or clinic that can offer free or low cost options to make sure you can fill your medication prescriptions.
Try a leukotriene inhibitor if you have asthma. It works to prevent leukotrienes. The inflammation caused by this substance can trigger the symptoms of asthma. Leukotriene is an oral therapy for the treatment of asthma, but it is not as effective as inhaled corticosteroids.
If you have asthma, a dehumidifier is something you should consider purchasing for you home. Dust mites are a major source of asthma attacks, and dehumidifiers are great at getting rid of the little buggers. A dehumidifier works to dry the air by removing moisture.
Social Worker
Think about becoming a member of a support group, whether it is online or somewhere local. Asthma is a disease that can affect your everyday life and prove debilitating in so many ways. As science marches on, new medications and treatments for asthma become available, and you can keep abreast of this progress through a good support group.
If you have asthma and cannot afford health insurance or have no eligibility, bring up your situation with a social worker. Asthma medications are never cheap, but it’s vital that you receive them and that is the social worker’s goal. He or she will deal with the clinics directly in efforts to remedy the situation.
During cold, winter months, asthma sufferers should wear a shawl, muffler, or scarf that will cover both their nose and mouth. This helps warm the air prior to it entering your lungs. Breathing in the cold air has been shown to trigger asthma attacks, especially in younger children with moderate to severe asthma.
Vitamins C and E can greatly assist you in fighting asthma attacks. There is some evidence that these two vitamins can improve breathing and lower the frequency of asthma attacks. Either find a good vitamin supplement to take, or change your diet to include more foods rich in Vitamins E and C. Vitamins C and E are necessary for a healthy immune system. If your immune system isn’t healthy, it won’t be able to fight off illnesses that cause asthma attacks.
Find out how you are supposed to use your asthma medication and rescue treatments. Asthma is typically treated with a regular medication supplemented by rescue medicine, such as an inhaler. Since asthma is chronic in nature, appropriate application and use of both management and rescue medicines is vital.
Keep dust and dirt to a minimum in any bedroom where an asthma sufferer sleeps. Food should be restricted to the kitchen, and smoking inside the home should never be permitted. After cleaning around the house, open windows and allow fresh air into the house. This can reduce the smell and pervasiveness of household cleaners like bleach.
Stay away from smoke if you have asthma. The inhalation of smoke can easily trigger an asthma attack. Stay away from chemical fumes, vapors, and cigarette smoke at all times. All of these will increase your asthma symptoms. If someone is smoking near you, either ask them to stop or remove yourself from the situation.
You must have regular asthma reviews, even if you are not having any problems. You don’t know when you could have another flare-up, or if there are better or safer medications available.
You should have limited contact with animals, as it can cause you to have an asthmatic reaction. Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies to animal dander. Even without a specific allergy, asthma attacks can be triggered by the dust and dander in the air caused by the presence of an animal.
Support Group
If you suffer from asthma, it is imperative that you know how to correctly use your inhaler. You need to know that you can’t lightly inhale as you just spray it inside your mouth. When you spray the inhaler, be sure to breathe in as deeply as you can for two to three seconds. The medicine will not be able to do its job if you aren’t taking the time to take it the right way.
Think about signing up for a support group locally or online. Left untreated, asthma can be very debilitating and prevent you from enjoying your normal activities. By joining a support group, you will be able to discuss new scientific breakthroughs or treatment alternatives with those who are interested.
Follow up with your doctor three or four times a year to manage your asthma. Your doctor should be recording your current state as a benchmark, and making necessary changes to improve your situation if needed. You need to stay on top of scheduling doctor visits. Otherwise, your condition might deteriorate suddenly.
Many of the biggest triggers for asthma can, and do, exist in your home. These triggers include dust, spores and mold. To keep your body healthy and to cut down the frequency of asthma attacks, it is important to have your house professionally inspected and cleaned to remove these harmful substances. On top of that, doing housecleaning regularly can prevent build up of these particles.
Try to consume foods that are rich in B6 vitamins. Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, has been found to reduce the frequency and intensity of asthma attacks in many studies. Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is instrumental in the production of specific molecules which help the bronchial tissue to relax. Bananas are an easily accessible source of vitamin B6.
Humidity is a problem in the home, because it creates conditions that are perfect for mildew and mold growth. These things can trigger asthma attacks very easily. A dry home will help you out a lot more. When you are heating your home during the winter months, a dehumidifier can be used to control the humidity. In the summer, use an air conditioner to maintain dry air.
Asthma may be the result of genetics or something in the environment, or perhaps a bit of both. If someone in your family has asthma, pay extra attention to any asthma-like symptoms from yourself and your children. Environmental factors such as pollution, smoke, mold spores and excess dust can cause asthma, so make sure to keep yourself and little ones away from these hazards.
Talk to your physician if you feel your symptoms aren’t improving. Apply the advice you have read in this article to help you get around the symptoms.
Keep your home is clean, and sweep often. Also, you need to wash pillows, sheets and blankets often. By doing this, it prevents dust mites and dust from building up. Both dust and dust mites can trigger asthma attacks. If dust increases, the air is more likely to irritate the lungs of asthma sufferers. This can quickly turn into an asthma attack.